Wednesday, December 28, 2005

We have an acquaintance who has a medical condition which requires surgery. Complicating matters is the fact that she is currently planning to establish residency in another country. She is currently in that other country, but cannot afford to have the operation there. Since she is still an American citizen, an alternative she is considering is to temporarily move back here where, due to her circumstances she will be eligible for Medicaid, which will pay for the surgery. She would make the permanent move overseas once she recovers.

A more accurate statement would be: “to temporarily move back here where American taxpayers would fund her operation, after which she would move overseas.”

A still more accurate statement would be: “to temporarily move back here where you and I would pay for her operation, thus enabling her to move overseas.”

As one who promotes and encourages personal responsibility, I have a problem with this. We give the State the power to take our money and give it to someone else (or to pay for services on their behalf). Is it “right” that the State will take our money to pay for such services on behalf of one who will then move (permanently) to another country?

Your thoughts?

[NB: I would prefer not to discuss the whole issue of Medicaid (and other such mechanisms) paying the cost of health care for persons here illegally; I understand that the issues are related, but I’d really like to focus on this specific situation.]

We have an acquaintance who has a medical condition which requires surgery. Complicating matters is the fact that she is currently planning to establish residency in another country. She is currently in that other country, but cannot afford to have the operation there. Since she is still an American citizen, an alternative she is considering is to temporarily move back here where, due to her circumstances she will be eligible for Medicaid, which will pay for the surgery. She would make the permanent move overseas once she recovers.

A more accurate statement would be: “to temporarily move back here where American taxpayers would fund her operation, after which she would move overseas.”

A still more accurate statement would be: “to temporarily move back here where you and I would pay for her operation, thus enabling her to move overseas.”

As one who promotes and encourages personal responsibility, I have a problem with this. We give the State the power to take our money and give it to someone else (or to pay for services on their behalf). Is it “right” that the State will take our money to pay for such services on behalf of one who will then move (permanently) to another country?

Your thoughts?

[NB: I would prefer not to discuss the whole issue of Medicaid (and other such mechanisms) paying the cost of health care for persons here illegally; I understand that the issues are related, but I’d really like to focus on this specific situation.]